RCUK has published a booklet outlining the Research Councils’ commitment to promote innovation and deliver impact from its research.

The booklet, Innovation and the Research Councils (available at www.rcuk.ac.uk/Documents/publications/Innovationbookletfinalweb.pdf), outlines the vital role UK research has for society and the economy, detailing RCUK’s approach to innovation.

As well as directly funding research, key parts of this approach include training skilled people, developing collaborative research programmes with partners and investing in research facilities.

A number of BBSRC initiatives to drive innovation are highlighted in the publication. These include the continued investment in UK Research and Innovation Campuses to provide world-leading research facilities and the Advanced Training Partnerships (ATPs), which provide postgraduate level professional development in the areas of agriculture and food production for a large number of industry specialists across the UK.

Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts said: “Science and research in their own right are vital to the UK economy and society. But our research base is also fostering innovation by interacting with business and passing on the latest knowledge to industry. This drives long-term, sustainable growth, creates jobs and keeps the UK ahead in the global race.”